: The Lion King:

Fall of the pride lands

Welcome to another story brought to from the Prime of Pride Rock I know I said I would wait but my first story is getting quite a few views so here's another story of the Lion King Legacy to enjoy, be warned the following story is a sequel to my previous story The Lion King Tale of brothers with many of the character arcs continuing from where they left off it is strongly recommended that you read my previous story before reading this one.

"Choose your side and never look back for during the fall of the pride lands there were no heroes"

: Prologue:

A new era

"Long live the king", those were the words that ended the reign of Mufasa and begun the reign of Scar. As the words were stated by the lion he grasped onto Mufasa's paws and dug his claws in deep before letting allowing him to fall to his death in the stampede below. Yet out of this tragedy we shall rise, this was what Scar proclaimed to the pride that was now his. "And reach the dawning of new era in which lion and hyena will come together in a great and glorious future!" Scar promised, and on that day the lions and the hyenas became one pride and a new age begun, the age of Scar.

The lionesses led by Sarafina hunted a pack of antelope near the river a group of hyenas on the opposite end, the antelope hear the hyena's presence and flee in an instant the antelope were overcome and brought back to Pride rock for a feast. The two sides gathered around and ate while Sarafina gave a chunk of her share to her daughter Nala who barely accepted it she turned away and sulked her head in sadness, the young cub was still grieving over the loss of her closest friend, Simba the son of the deceased Mufasa and former prince of the pride lands as well as one day Nala's potential mate, that day was over now it would never happen, the thought made Nala cry. Several feet away a lone hyena stared at Nala with both pity and longing he tried to approach her to wipe away her tears but she rejected his aid and pushed away leaving the den. The hyena boy watched her depart with sadness what he would give to see her happy, she was pretty as it was to see her smile would be downright beautiful, and that would be what he dedicated himself to, keeping her safe and happy, with that resolve he left her for the time her beautiful features engraved in his mind.

The increase in predator activity begins to cause the herd to drift a bit further news of the new order spreads until it reaches a lone lioness, a woman who had been in self imposed exile for over a decade she hears news of her friend's death as well as her loves rise. She had spent the last several years gathering his followers to build the kingdom that would be his; he had spent his whole life seeking to claim the throne, now at last they had both succeeded now she was ready to return. The lioness spent the next several weeks journeying across all of Africa until finally she had returned to the place she had lived most her life, Zira was finally home. Scar looks on with shock at the sight of the lioness he never thought he would see again and the woman he loves. Zira smiles at her mate and happily embraces her friend Sarafina she expects the same welcome from Sarabi, the sister she had missed so much but all Sarabi does is smile gently at her. Zira slowly approaches Sarabi seeing her at the grave of the king, she embraces her sister and allows her to sob into her, and the two finally embrace. Scar nuzzles Zira and welcomes her home, the lioness she had brought with her kneel down and swear their loyalty to the king, Scar smiles satisfied and takes Zira to the top of pride rock where they roar together the first as king and queen. Sarabi looks up at the both she feels a sense of happiness for her sister but also an overwhelming sadness she cannot see this it hurt too much.

Nearly a year later the animals had gathered around Pride Rock though more reluctant than usual looking up at the king and queen and their new born son, Nuka. Rafiki held the child who was bit delicate more fragile than the previous princes he presented, he broke a fruit and placed a mark on the child's head, it was a double edged sword, Rafiki truly was happy to finally see Zira and Scar so happy something he never thought would happen but to be presenting the next heir so soon it reminded him of Mufasa and Simba's death, such a needless tragedy, but there was no reason to take out his reluctance on the new royal family they were merely fulfilling their roles the best they could. Rafiki held Nuka up to rest of the pride they all let out cries, though these were more of loyalty than actual joy, it was wrong, Nuka was a prince and deserved proper respect his life was a gift, but he was mostly be passed aside just because he was Scar's son not Mufasa's, it was one of the few times Rafiki and Scar would agree. Sarabi watched as Zira took her son in her arms and nuzzled she could've sworn there were tears in her eyes, Sarabi couldn't help but feel her own loss once more, they were happy, but came at the price of her misery, looking up at the new royal family and turning to the graves of her family Sarabi growled and turned away in bitterness and resentment.

Zira quickly turns the pride around, hunting parties are now split into lion and hyena groups each one being used to reel in the other, as well as to match each others skill set, the new hunting parties prove to be very successful relying on stealth to take down prey without even noticing, the presence of the hyenas is kept to a minimum to further keep the herds from becoming paranoid. Years later Zira forms what would be one of the most successful of the group, a now full grown Nala and very same hyena boy who sought her happiness. They hunt together bringing down several prey, the hyena happily presents his share to Nala, who merely turns away indifferent, the hyena does not respond he merely steps away to give her space.

Far out near the borders Zira finds a lioness on the verge of starvation, she brings her back to the pride lands where Scar uncertainly nods allowing her presence, Zira places her on the large flat rock only to see that she is pregnant. Weeks later the lioness gives birth to a baby girl, though she is too weak to take care of her, with a reluctant smile she places her in Zira's arms who looks down at the cub uncertain in an instant the cub gently grasps her nose and looks up at her, Zira sees the cubs adorable blue eyes as she feels her heart melt, she smiles down at the cub.

Months later Zira holds the cub who she and the cubs mother had named Vitani, the little cub playfully bats at her, Zira responds by gently stroking the fur on her head, she then looks to see Scar with his son Nuka who is jumping up and playing with his fathers ear, Scar calls Zira for help and she takes Nuka in her arms who Vitani pushes herself up against though surprised Nuka smiles at his new sister and wraps a small paw around her. Scar makes his way to Zira and nuzzles her as the two watch their two children bond.

From a cave at the far side of the den Sarabi watches the family and feels her whole body trembling, she looks to Zira with bitterness and envy and Scar with nothing but hatred and rage, their happy life was solely because she lost hers, she resented them all, she felt her pain grow she wouldn't sit back and watch this anymore, the kingdom was falling apart and that family was single handily destroying her families legacy, she would not endure this. Deep within Sarabi's anger grew and a dark thought formed in her head, they took it all from her they would pay, it was a thought she didn't even know existed yet but she would, she would know it in time and then she would see who she truly was, but would she also become a monster along the way, a monster that may in the end very well be her true self.